Parques de Portugal

<p> <em>Ardea purpurea</em> Linaeus, 1766</p>

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  • Purple heron

  • Ardea purpurea Linaeus, 1766

  • Ardeidae

  • The purple heron is a majestic heron, tall and slim, with a long beak neck and legs. It presents a red plumage on its belly, and grey on its back with long black stripes, white throat, black on the top of its head and has two black plumes on its nape. It can grow to be 90 cm high and have 145 cm span.

  • Paul de Arzila Nature Reserve

    Paul do Boquilobo Nature Reserve

    Estuário do Tejo Nature Reserve

    Estuário do Sado Nature Reserve

    Lagoas de Santo André e da Sancha Nature Reserve

    Paul da Tornada Local Nature Reserve

  • Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

    Centro

    Alentejo

  • Endangered

  • The purple heron exists in moist zones with marsh vegetation, with shallow water, weak current and smooth substrate, such as estuaries, rivers, coastal ponds, weirs, dams and small canals. 

  • Spring and Summer

  • The purple heron feeds mainly on fish and insects, and occasionally on other invertebrates and small vertebrates. It gets its food by walking in shallow water or remaining hidden on the vegetation in wait.

  • The Portuguese population of this species is estimated to be between 800 and 1000 couples.